Metra on track to rehab, rebuild dozens of stations

December 06, 2009

Lattes flow for commuters at Tinley Park's $5 million Metra station, an architectural gem. But the only thing flowing at Cicero's dreary train stop is the rainwater that blows through the corrugated-metal shelter.

"A lot of people are understandably upset with the way this place is now," said commuter Merrill Shepro, 56, of Cicero, as he recently waited at the open-faced structure. "With that [wall] being open, when it rains, the benches get all wet and you can't sit on them. That's just one of many problems."

But that will change next year when Metra is expected to rebuild Cicero's platforms and decrepit shelters, at an anticipated cost of $6.5 million. The project is part of a $136-million, state-funded public works program that includes three new Metra stations and rehabbing 24 dilapidated facilities.

Metra has more than 230 stations serving about 315,000 daily riders. Some, like the one in Tinley Park, are Taj Mahals, while others are transportation tenements.

The improvements, some long overdue, are needed to build ridership at a time when fares are increasing while revenues are dropping because of the slack economy, Metra says.

"We don't want to go back to the bad old days, the days of Metra's inception in 1983-84, when the system was in such a deteriorated condition ... that it affects service and ultimately costs more to run the railroad," Metra Chairwoman Carole Doris said.

The Cicero station served as a poster child for decay last April when transportation officials toured it as they lobbied legislators to approve the public works program.

Cicero and Metra officials have talked for years about fixing the open-air shelter. But the only work done so far -- replacing some rusty metal from the wall with plywood -- has made things worse by opening the platform to the elements, commuters said.

"We had protection before, but they took off this part," said Marcelo Rivadeneria, 60, of Cicero, pointing to where the metal was removed.

Cicero commuters aren't going to get a fancy station, even though the project will cost $1.5 million more than Tinley Park's.

Metra says one reason the Cicero project is so expensive is because an access tunnel and ramp need to be rebuilt to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Also, the work, expected to take 18 months, will be particularly complicated by the nearness of one platform to a freight railroad yard.